Fence



(No Model.)

J. L. SULLIVAN.

FENCE.

No. 271,665. Patented Feb. 6,1883.

UIIED STATES JOHN L. SULLIVAN, OF

PATENT amen,

GRENADA, MISSISSIPPI.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent I \To. 271,665, dated February 6, 1883.

Application filed December 52, 1881. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN L. SULLIVAN, of the town of Grenada, county of Grenada, and State of Mississippi, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the fastening devices used to secure boards or rails to the posts offences, and will first be described, and then designated in the claim.

In the drawings hereto annexed Figure 1 shows a cuff for securing the boards to the post. Fig. 2 is a top view of a post having the cuff attached thereto, and showing by broken lines that the cuff may swing hinge-like; -Fig. 3 is atv'ie tv of a fence to which the improvement is applied.

- The letter O designates what I call a cuff, and it consists of a band of iron of any desired shape in cross-sectiou-fiat, round, square, 850. The iron is bent to form three sides of a square hoop, as shown; or it may be semicircularthat is, U-shaped; or it may have other shape approaching theseas, for' instance, the two ends may touch or come together. The ends which are secured to the post are provided with eyes or loops 0, formed in any suitable manner, and this device constitutes the cuff. -The cuff is secured to the posts A A by staples f, which are passed through the eyes or loops into the side of the post. This enables the calf to move hinge-like on its fastenings. The cuff, being attached to a sideof the post which is at a right angle to the line of boards or rails B, has much firmer hold than it would have if attached to the front of the post, because all strain on thefastening which may be occasioned by the boards or rails will be across the line of penetration of the staples. One end of each of two boards or rails B are arranged in the cuff with the said ends overlapping or resting side by side, as shown. The ends may be.

notched, as at a, to receive the cuff, and may be pointed or not,'as desired. The top board or rail may be fastened on top of the post, and the cuff (3 for same may be secured directly on top; or, as at 0 its end may extend down below the top and be secured to the front surface of post, having the nailings driven in the post at right angles to the grain of timber. One end of the rail, as at B, may rest on top side of a post. 'VVhen the top rail is secured on top there is economy of post material, as the post can be shorter, audit makes a heaterlooking fence; and also the weight of railing not being on the cuff, but resting on the top of the post, makesa much stronger fence-an advantageof note, taking into consideration that the security of the top rail is of more importance than any other in the fence. When the cuff is arranged on the post to work hingelike on its fasteniugs there is much convenrails, as the cuff may-be turned to one side to permit the passage of the end of the rail and afterward turned again in position.

A fence made with my improved cuff can be rapidly constructed, and very rough inferior material can he used and readily taken apart for removal, and again very speedily constructed, as the cuffs do not require to be detached from the post.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States- In a fence, the herein-described improved fastening for securing the rails to the posts, consisting of a three-sided or U-shaped cufl', the two ends of which are provided with eyes, 6, and staplesfpassed through the eyes, thereby forming ajoint to afford to the cuff a hingelike movement, as set forth.

JOHN L. SULLIVAN.

Witnesses:

Y W. A. LAYNE,

PAUL L. J oNEs.

of a post, and the other end against the from t ience in the insertion and taking out of the 

